Reversible venetian blind



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J. c. BENNETT ,E 2,781,836

REVERSIBLE VENETIAN BLIND Feb. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 27, 1948 INVENToR. L7-AMES C: BEN/V577;

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Feb. 19, 1957 J. c. BENNETT 2,781,836

REVERSIBLE VENETIANBLIND Filed Nov. 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M455 CE/vA/Ery;

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/QTToeMe-m United States Patent O REVERSIBLE VENETIAN BLIND James C. Bennett, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Anderson Die Casting & Engineering Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 27, 1948, Serial No. 62,306

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) This invention relates to Venetian blinds; more particularly, it relates to such blinds which are optionally reversible with respect to their supports.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved Venetian blind structure.

As is well understood, a conventional Venetian blind comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed slats arranged to be raised and lowered by the aid of lift cords, or the like, having portions depending adjacent one end of the blind for operating the cords.

It is another object of this invention to provide a Venetian blind arranged for optional installation with such lift cord portions at either end of the blind.

As is also well understood, the slats are adapted to be suspended from a top bar or tilt rail by means of ladder tapes, such bar or rail being mounted by a header or the like for tilting movement about a longitudinal axis to vary the transverse inclination or tilt of the slats. It is another object of this invention to yprovi-de an improved tilt rail construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for mounting a tilt rail for movement about a longitudinal axis, wherein the rail may be installed optionally in reversed end to end relation.

It is usually necessary that the operating portions of the lift cords depend on the inside face or room side of the blind. It is accordingly, another object of this invention to provide improved means whereby the cords may be disposed optionally on either side of the blind.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved lock means for the lift cords which may be installed and removed in a simple manner, facilitating replacement of the lock or installation of new cords.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense since the scope of the invention is best detined by the appended claims.

In the acompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the upper portion of a Venetian blind incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the tilt rail, partly broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

Figures k3 and 4 are cross sections, taken substantially as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the tilt rail, partly broken away to reduce the size of the ligure;

Figures 6 and 7 are cross sections taken substantially as indicated by line 6 6 of Figure 2, but showing diierent operating positions of the parts; and

f 2,781,835 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the blind mounted in reversed end to end relation.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figure l, a Venetian blind B is shown, comprising the usual horizontal slats 10, supported in spaced relation below the top member or tilt rail 11 by a plurality of ladder tapes 12 and 13 and adapted to be raised and lowered by means of the lift cords 14 and 15. The tilt rail 11 is supported for angular adjustment about a longitudinal axis by the aid of a pair of hangers 16 and 17 secured to a header or boxing member 18, one of the hangers, as the one marked 16 for example, being optionally operable by means of cable 20 to adjust the angular position or tilt of the top member 11. The lift ends 14 an-d 15 have operating portions 14a and 15-a respectively, which depend adjacent one end of the blind B. The arrangement is such that the blind is readily reversible in its supporting hangers 16 and 17 so that the lift cord portions 14-a and 15-a depend a-djacent the tilt adjusting cable 20 as shown in Figure 8, instead of at the opposite end, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the structure in detail, the tilt rail or top member 11 is of rectangular cross section and has supporting brackets 22 and 23 secured to it adjacent its opposite ends. The brackets 22 and 23 have respectively projections 24 and 25 providing circular bearing surfaces 24-a and 25-a and enlarged non-circular driving portions or heads 24-b and 25-b, shown for example as square. The brackets 22 and 23 are mounted with the axes of the bearing surfaces 24-a and ZS-a aligned and forming the longitudinal axis about which the member 11 is adjustable.

rl`he hanger 16 may be of any suitable type, of which many are commercially available, and is shown by way of example as comprising an element 26 rotatably mounted in a body 27. The element 26 has oppositely directed uted sockets 28 and Z9 for slidingly accomrmodating the head or driving portion 24-b of the bracket 22 and forming a splined driving connection therewith. The element 26 has a worm gear 30 formed on the exterior thereof and engaged by a worm 31 adapted to be driven by a sheave wheel 32 carrying the cable or cord 2) which passes downwardly through a cord guide 33. A pull on one end or the other of the cable 2t) serves to rotate the worm 31, altering the tilt of the member 11 in an obvious manner.

The other hanger 17 provides a surface 35 for rotatably supporting the other end of the member 11 by engaging the bearing surface ZS-a of the bracket 23. As best shown in Figure 4, the surface 35 is formed as an upwardly opening hook, a pivotally mounted retaining member -or gate 3o serving to retain the projection 25 against accidental displacement. By swinging the retainer 36 to the broken line position, the bracket extension 25 may be removed by a lifting and lateral motion. Since the supporting member or head 24-b remains in the socket 2S, this motion imparts a swinging movement to the top member 11 about head 2d-b as a pivot. To allow such movement, the length of contact in an axial direction between the head 244) and the uted socket 2S is made short. Thus, the surface 24-b tapers in both directions from a central zone 2d-c of maximum cross section. The other driving surface er head S25-I) has a similar central zone 25-c.

Since the projections 24 and 25 are substantially identical, the top member 11 may be installed as shown in Figures l and 2, with the projection 24 in driving relation with and supported by the rotatable element 26 of the hanger 16 and the projection 25 rotatably supported by the hanger 17, or optionally, in reversed end to end relation as shown in Figure 8, with the projection 25 supported by and in driving relation vwith the element 26 of hanger 16 and the projection 24 rotatably supported by the hanger 17.

The lift cords 14 and 15 are carried by the top member 11 for which purpose the member 11 is provided with a central longitudinally extending channel 37 with small sheave wheels 38 and 39 mounted therein for respectively supporting the cords 14 and 15. These cords 14 and 15 extend downwardly from the sheaves 38 and 39 through openings 40 and 41 and are attached to the bottom of the blind B in a conventional manner. The ends 14 and 15 pass from the sheaves 38 and 39 longitudinally of the top member 11 to the cord lock 42 at one end of the member, and thence extend downwardly to provide the operating extensions 14-a and 15-a for convenient manipulation to adjust the blind. The cord lock 42 comprises a hollow block 43 with a roller 44 over which the cords 14 and 15 pass, rotatably mounted in the upper portion thereof, and a lock member 45 pivoted in the lower portion. The member 45 has a toothed cam surface 46 adapted to approach the inner surface 47 of the block 43 to confine the cords 14 and 15 thereagainst in response to upward movement of the member 45.

The arrangement is such that a downward pull on the extensions 14-a and 15-a swings the lock member 45 downwardly, releasing the cords 14, 15 so that the slats may be raised. When it is desired to secure the slats in adjusted elevated position, the extensions 14-a and -a are swung slightly to the left (Figure 2) to engage the toothed cam surface 46 and the blind lowered a short distance, the resulting upward movement of the extensions causing the lock member 45 to swing upwardly and lock the cords against the block surface 47. When it is desired to lower the blind, the extensions 1M and 15-a are swung to the right so that their upward movement will not cause the lock member 45 to operate.

lt is usually desirable that the lift operating cord extensions 14-a and 15-a be on the same side of the blind B as the tilt adjusting cable regardless of whether these extensions 14-a and 15-a are at the same end of the blind as the cable 20, as in Figure 7, or at the opposite end, as in Figures l and 2. Accordingly, the lock 42 is pivotally mounted on the top member 11 for swinging movement to direct the cord extensions 14-a and 1541 optionally to either side of the blind, as indicated in Figure 6. Furthermore, to facilitate initial installation of the lock 42, as well as subsequent replacement and the installation of new lift cords, the lock 42 is secured in a novel manner.

Thus, as shown in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the bracket 23 comprises a frame formed by a pair of spaced longitudinal walls 50 and 51 and a pair of spaced transverse end walls 52 and 53 joined thereto and cooperating to define a rectangular space 54 accommodating the cord lock 42. The inner end wall 52 has an angle extension SZ-a by the aid of which the bracket 23 is secured to the top member 11, the outer end wall 53 having the supporting projection formed integrally therewith.

The block 43 of the cord lock 42 has a pair of oppositely directed aligned pintles 43-n and 43-b formed on the upper portions of the ends thereof which rockably support the block 43 by engagement respectively with saddles 52-a and 53-a respectively formed on the end walls 52 and S3. These saddles 52-a and 53-a are substantially identical, having respectively upwardly directed openings 52b and 53-b (see Figure 6) through which the pintles 43-a and 43-b may pass freely into and out of the saddles.

To prevent accidental displacement of the block 42, each of the saddles 52a and 53-a is formed by'a U- shaped wall (see Figure 6) and lugs 59 and 60 are provided respectively on the ends of the block 43 radially spaced from the mounting pintles 43-a and 43b. From a study of Figure 6 it will be apparent that the lug 59, by engagement with the lower surface of the wall of saddle bearings 53-a, will limit upward movement of the pintle in the saddle and -thus prevent removal of the block 43. Further, by engagement with the vertical portion of the said U-shaped wall, it will limit rocking movement of the block 43 to a position in which the block is substantially horizontal (Figure 7). In this position the block 43 is readily removable by a straight upward movement. Conversely, by positioning the block horizontally above the space 54, with the pintle mountings 43-a, 43-b respectively aligned with the saddle mountings 52-a, Slt-n', it may be readily installed by the lowering movement.

It is important to note that the tilt member 11 together with the slats, the means for raising and lowering the slats and the cord lock are readily removable as a unit from the fixed hangers 16 and 17 and subject to replacement with the tilt member in reversed end to end position whereby the lift cords may be disposed at the same end Vof the blind as the tilt cords or the tilt and lift cords disposed at opposed ends of the blind, as desired, without adjusting or disturbing the set position of the hangers. This also makes it easier to clean opposite sides of the blind and to dispose either side of the blind so as to face the interior of the room.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind construction comprising a tilt rail supported by a pair of hangers one of which is provided with a tilting mechanism, a xture secured to each end of said tilt rail, said fixture including a pintle projecting from an end of said rail and an enlargement on the outer end of said pintle to support said rail on the hangers, either of said enlargements being adapted for a driving vconnection with the hanger having a tilting mechanism thereon and a cord lock means which contains a hollow block, a roller rotatably mounted in said block over which the lift cords pass, and an adjustable lock member for locking the lift cords and pintles located on opposite sides of said block mounted in trunnions to permit the cord` lock means to be swung to either side of said fixture.

2. In an end xture for the tilt rail of a Venetian blind, a trame having means at one end for attachment to said tilt rail and provided with projecting means for pivotally mounting and driving said tilt rail at its opposite end, a cord lock means comprising a hollow block, a roller rotatably mounted in said block over which a lift cord may pass and an adjustable lock member to lockv said cord, mounting pintles located on opposite sides of said block, and saddle bearings on corresponding opposite sides of said frame, said saddle bearings being open on the upper sides thereof for reception of said pintles to mount said block in said frame.

3. An end fixture for the tilt rail of a Venetian blind comprising a frame having means at one end for attachment to said tilt rail and provided with projecting means for pivotally mounting and driving said tilt rail at its opposite end, a cord lock means which includes a hollow block, a roller rotatably mounted in said block over which a cord means may pass and an adjustable lool: member to lock said cord means, mounting pintles located on opposite sides of said block, saddle bearings on corresponding opposite sides of said frame, said saddle bearings being open on the upper sides thereof for reception of said pintles to mount said block in said frame, and a stop lug projecting from one side of said block in spaced Vrrelation to the adjacent pintle engageable with the exterior of the adjacent saddle bearing to retain said pintles in said bearings.

4. An end fixture for the tilt rail of a Venetian blind comprising a frame having means at one end for attachment to said tilt rail and provided with projecting means for pivotally mounting and driving said tilt rail at its opposite end, a cord lock means including a hollow block, a roller rotatably mounted in said block over which a lift cord may pass and an adjustable lock member to lock said cord, mounting pintles located on opposite sides of said block, and saddle bearings on corresponding opposite sides of said frame, said bearings being closed at the bottoms and sides thereof and open on their upper sides to -permit of mounting of said pintles therein from above said frame to pivotally mount said block in said frame.

5. A Venetian blind construction comprising a tilt rail,

a frame having means at one end for attachment Vto said ,-sides of said frame, said saddle bearings being open on the upper sides thereof for reception of said pintles to mount said block in said frame, and hangers supporting said tilt rail provided `with bearings, said cord lock means, cord means `and pintles being readily removable as a unit with the tilt rail and slats from said hangers `and bearings.

6. A Venetian blind construction comprising a tilt rai supported by a pair of hangers one of which is provided with a tilting mechanism, a fixture secured to each end of said tilt rail, one of said xtures including a frame having means at one end for attachment to said tilt rail and provided with projecting means for pivotally mounting and driving said tilt rail at its opposite end, a cord lock means comprising a hollow block, a roller rotatably mounted in said-block over which a lift cord may pass and an adiustanle'lock member to lock said cord, mounting pintles located on opposite sides of said block, and saddle bearings on corresponding opposite sides of the frame at one end of said rail, said saddle bearings being open on the upper sides thereof for reception of said pintles to mount said block in said frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 480,548 Benway Aug. 9, 1892 1,769,158 Oechsle July `1, 1930 2,055,816 Dodge Sept. 29, 1936 2,127,330 Findell y Aug. 16, 1938 2,141,502 Ajouelo Dec. 27, 1938 2,157,637 Shehan May 9, Y1939 2,190,884 Rosenstein Feb. 20, 1940 2,224,712 Balthasar ----5 Dec. 10, 1940 2,239,621 Nisenson Apr.'22, 1941 2,297,627 Loehr Sept. 29, 1942 2,539,697 Morse Ian. 30, 1951 

